The Washington critic., 1887-05-21
THE ELDER BOOTH.
"reminiscences Of His San Francisco
Engagement in 1862.
HIS LAST APPEARANCES.
His Farewell to the Stage In the Great
Character of "shylock."
HIS TRIBUTE TO HIS BOY NED"

f<'' "S bNc 1ou u
that Ia not merely Of local interest. 1t was
In 1852. The great tragic actor Juuius
Brutus Booth had been in California sew.
eral months and played successful engage
ments in Sacramento and San Francisco.
lie had, as usual, alternated his easily won
stage triumphs with passages-at-arms with
his one enemy over which no man has ever
been victorious. lie was gentle, noble,
guileless and erratlc. 1t is related OF him
that at the tlme Of which speak his eldest
son, Junlus, said to him:
"Father, you have no engagement; why
don't you get drunkS"
"Well, believe WILL" was tho reply,
and the merry mood was soon upon him.
Lewis Baker, q most flushed actor, an
accomplished manager and liberal gentle
man, was then the lessee Of tho Adelehi
Theatre, q small house on Dupont street in
San francisco. He was enjoying a profit.
able comedy season, and had filled his the
atre to overnowiDg with "Old Heads and
Young Hearts," "London Assurancep and
other modern pieces. He was an admirer
and friend Of Mr.. Booth, and volunteered to
withdraw his attractions for four nights
and give the tragedian an opportunity to
play brief farewell engagement on terms
which would enable him to replenish his not
over-plethoric purse He was accordingly
order named "Bertram." 'Richard Ill.,"
"A New Way to Pay Old Debtsr and "The
Merchant Of Venice" The theatre was
packed nightly TO Its utmost capacity.
He was we'll received in "Bertran," al
though 1t is a play that has never excited
any particular interest In this country. 1t
Is interesting chiefly as having been first
presented at the Drury Lane in London
through the influence OF Lord Byron with
the manager and with Edmund Kean In the
title role.
On the second night Booth was uhimself
again" in "Richsrd,n by which Is meant
that he was up to the highest pitch OF ex-
citement that the fascination tho part had
for him and the liquor he could get to
drink were together capable Of producing.
When he knelt to Lady Ainc he was un-
able to rise to his feet without assistance,
and os soon as he was up he approached the
footlights and INDUCED In by-play, with
those In the front rows OF the orchestra
seats. Enveloping his head with his hands
"a favorite gesture with him-and bring
Ing them In front Of his face, he said through
them, soto roce, but yet so as to be heard,
"I'm a gentleman, and q soldier, and
pirate"-the last word being In stage whis-
per. Seeing the flame Of one OF the footlights
shoot above the glass chimney, he made
an attempt to cut It of with his sword. But
his condition did not prevent him from
bringing the combat with Richmond no to
bis usual standard OF fiery energy. He was
always one to beware Of In the sword con-
bat, for at times he disdained all ehams, and
handled his weapon as one who had indeed
an enemy before him. Mr.. Baker PLAYED
Richmond, and but for his skill, coolness
and strength might have been worsted. As
II was he suffered slight wound In one
finger. After the curtain had gone down
Mr.. Booth was all penitence and considera-
tion for the friend he had thus unwittingly
hurt, and. prescribed brandy bath for the
wound. A boy was dispatched for some
brandy, and brought a tumberful into
which Mr.. Baker placed his bleeding finger,
and there allowed 1t to remain until the
blood had ceased to flow. When he had
taken 1t out Mr.. Booth took the glass and
drank It's contents as though 1t had been
nectar. No one doubted that he was entirely
oblivious Of the addition that had been
made to the brandy.
AT the next mornings rehearsal the man.
ager notified him that much as he respected
him, he would not allow an audience of his
to be again insulted as had been the one col
lected on the previous evening. The courtly
actor repelled with dignity, but without as
perity, what he declared to be Mr.. Bakers
mistake. ~ assure you, sir,' he said, "you
are entirely mistaken; was not In the least
degree intoxicated. The Manifestations you
saw were caused by the woollen shreds which
tloated In the air from the green baize on the
stage. Ever since my nose was broken a
carpet or baize on the stage always causes
me dizziness" The patient manager ac-
cepted this rather extraordinary eXpllna-
ton without question and Booth played the
remaining two nights on the naked boards
OF the stage, and there was no return OF the
"dizziness.n
lie played Sir Giles as 1t has never been
played since, and probably never had been
before by any one except bis great contem.
porary OF earlier years-Edmund Kean.
On the fourth night he played Shylock at
his benefit and last appearance on any stage
stantly being that OF mighty force
restrained, q power that would have been
like tornado II he had given 1t rein. He
acted every moment, not obtrusively, to
the hindrance or obscuring of others when
they were delivering their lines, but as men
in real life, intensely wrought upon, cannot
refrain from acting.
The careful and painstaking actor WIN
SOM who played 1nt0nio told me that Mr.
Booth was gentle and considerate to all
around him, and that at rehearsal, when he
asked him where he would have him station
himself at particular passage which gave
the stage to ShylOck and himself, tho answer
was: "Wherever you please, my boy;
wherever you can best be seen. You are
young fellow, and am not. Get In front
where you can be seen."
After the curtain had rung down for the
last time on the illustrious actor he settled
with the treasurer for his share of the re-
ceipts, and tied the coin up In handker-
chief. With this In his hand, aud with a
body-guard Of friends, he called at some of
the newspaper Offices, and at one (thlt of
the Wig, edited by Lull 4 Plxley) was
told that he said "My boy Ned, Is comius
out here soon, and want you to be good to
him. He Is good boy-he Is good to his
mother"
A letter addressed to Secretary Stanton In
1865 by Mr.. Edwin Booth on his mothers
behalf and at her solicitation, asks that the
necessary order may be made for the final
interment OF her ill-starred son. The
delicate language in which 1t is phrased,
ard the elevated spirit which pervades II, is
eloquent testimony In confirmation OF the
brief ard affectIonate eulogy his father pro-
nounced upon him thirteen years before,
He visited California soon after 1859, aud at
the age Of twenty played successful engage
ments, appearing In many of the leading
characters which have since made him
famous. The elder Booth was only ilfty-six
years Of age at the time OF his death in 1859.
GEORGE G. GoRuAM.
Washington, May, 1887.
The Mount Vernon Regents.
After the meeting of the regents at